Obamamania over in sub Saharan Africa

Kenya rejoiced as “Africa’s son” became the president of the United States in 2008.

Yet it is unclear whether Africans will take to the streets and beat the drum if Obama wins a
second term.

Obamamania has cooled somewhat since the heady days of his election with many Kenyans saddened that the president has ignored his ancestral homeland.

Steven Okungu from Kogelo, the village where the president’s father lived, said: “It’s a disappointment since he came from this place, he should have even at least come to say hi to the people of Kenya, at least so that we can know that we are still together in spirit, other than abandoning us as if he was never our son.”

Obama spent a mere 20-hours of his presidency in sub-Saharan Africa compared to China’s President Hu Jintao who has travelled to the continent seven times.

Despite his distance Obama still exerted an influence in Kenya.

Kenyan economic analyst James Shikwati explained: “There was an indirect participation where there was this sort of this big brother whispering in our ears that you better do the right thing, So I mean one of the biggest achievements that Kenyans had and I think this could be the only country in sub Saharan Africa has been, to reconstitute its governance system.”

If Obama does win a second term in the White House don’t be surprised if Ghanaian rapper Black Rasta releases a sequel to his mega hit single “Barack Obama”.